Joe Pesci suing Gotti movie producers for $3m

Joe Pesci is planning to sue the producers of Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father for breach of contract.

The Goodfellas star claims that Fiore Films used his name to generate a buzz for the project before retracting his offer to play mob enforcer Angelo Ruggiero, according to TMZ. He plans to sue for the $3 million (£1.8 million) contract sum, plus punitive damages.

Pesci's lawyer also claims that the actor put on 30lb (14kg) in preparation for the part.

Fiore Films chief Mike Fiore told Entertainment Weekly that Pesci had pulled out of the film when original director Nick Cassavetes left the project due to scheduling conflicts.

He said: "Before we had a deal, Mr Pesci walked away. He's wasting his time and everybody else's time. I might be a newbie in town. This newbie is not going to get bullied around."